A heavy dust storm swamped Riyadh and its surrounding areas Thursday and Friday, causing poor visibility on the roads. The dust wave hit suddenly, catching several people in parks and recreation grounds unawares. Emergency rooms of hospitals and clinics received an unusually large number of people with respiratory problems and pharmacists estimated at least a 60 percent increase in sales. Dr. Jameel Al-Metwalli Jad Allah, pediatrics consultant at Al-Hayat Clinics, told Al-Watan Arabic daily that he personally examined more than 40 who developed asthma, chest allergy and sinus problems from inhaling the dust. The General Presidency for Meteorology and Environment Protection said winds of 12 to 36 kilometers an hour will continue to blow in the dust on Sunday. Parts of the northern, eastern and western areas of Kingdom will be hit. Jabr Al-Dosari, an astronomer, said dusty weather is likely till April-end as spring is approaching. Al-Dosari warned of severely heavy dust after sunset. __
